Compare World Cup Odds 2018: Outright Winner Betting

Compare football World Cup odds 2018 from the top online bookies below for the tournament in Russia. On this page you will find World Cup outright winner odds and top goalscorer betting odds for the Golden Boot. Plus check our free bets from best bookies. The World Cup final is at 4pm on Sunday July 15.

World Cup Odds 2018 – Final Match Betting

To Win Football World Cup in Russia 2018; best odds bold; Each-Way Place Terms: Win Only.

To Win World Cup Golden Boot for Top Scorer; best odds bold; Each-Way Place Terms: Win Only.

Round-Up Of The Bookies’ World Cup Odds

France are the only one of the genuine pre-tournament favourites to have made it through to the last four of the 2018 World Cup, where they are joined by Belgium, Croatia and England. It is little wonder then that the French are favourites in the World Cup odds, writes Nick.

It has been a tournament of surprises. Hosts Russia defied all expectations to reach the last eight. Holders Germany were eliminated at the group stage, Argentina, Portugal and Spain fell in the last 16, and Brazil were seen off by Belgium in a thrilling quarter-final. The result is a slightly strange and unforeseeable semi-final line-up.

Belgium have made it through to the final four for the first time since 1990. They have a strong Premier League flavour, with 12 players who currently ply their trade in England and a further three who used to. Roberto Martinez coached Wigan and Everton before taking on the job of leading an excellent generation of players forward into this tournament.

Belgium came very close to losing out to Japan, the only Asian side to make the knockout rounds, in the last 16, but produced a stunning late comeback before then recording a famous win over Brazil in the last eight. By doing so, they made it an all-European final four. This will therefore be the fourth consecutive World Cup, and the fifth in the last six, won by a team from Europe. South America looks to have some catching up to do.

With the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium are a particularly potent attacking force, which is interesting because in their semi-final, they will meet France, arguably the best defensive team in the competition.

France were among the pre-tournament favourites in the World Cup betting and although they have rarely sparkled, they have produced a series of strong and controlled performances to reach the final four. Their one and only previous World Cup triumph came on home soil back in 1998, with current coach Didier Deschamps out on the pitch, but they were losing finalists at Euro 2016, are stable at the back and have enough quality to make the difference for them in attack.

In a World Cup in which all five African teams failed to make it out of the group stage, the continent’s supporters will at least have something to cheer in that first semi-final. Both Belgium and France feature a number of second and third generation African immigrants, including Lukaku (Congo), Kylian Mbappe (Algeria and Cameroon) and Paul Pogba (Guinea).

The second semi-final features two sides who wouldn’t have realistically expected to get so far. Croatia struggled in qualifying and required a playoff win over Greece to book their place at Russia 2018. While the talent in their squad has never been in doubt, finding a way of utilising it all in unison has proved a task largely beyond a number of coaches.

Zlatko Dalic has more or less been able to find a workable formula, although his side looked more impressive in the group stage than they did in overcoming Denmark and Russia on penalties to reach the final four. It is the first time since their third-place finish in 1998 that Croatia have progressed to this stage. Going one round further would provide the team who played their first international in 1992 with their first appearance in a major final.

For opponents England, this represents a first semi-final appearance since 1990 and a good chance to progress to the final for the first time since their sole triumph on home soil back in 1966. Expectations were relatively low for Gareth Southgate’s squad coming into the World Cup, but steadily, round by round, excitement has grown and a question has emerged: Is football finally coming home?

The fact that England are in what looks on paper the easier semi-final certainly justifies their position as second favourites in the World Cup odds with the bookies. But there are still two significant hurdles to overcome before that can become reality. England have been assured, solidly organised and strong at set-piece situations, but will that be enough to win it all?

11 Responses to Compare World Cup Odds 2018: Outright Winner Betting

England are good at set pieces but play happy go lucky to match the face of Gareth Southgate in open play. They should beat Croatia though but Henderson needs to outplay Modric with regards to passes to fast forwards. That means England need to shackel Modric. If not England are coming home with a worst disaster than Scotland had in 1978. At least they beat Holland.

France open play is equivalent to England’s set pieces with sternness and discipline to match Didier Deschamps face. The only way England will score if they reach the final is to dig a tunnel that reaches right into the heart of France territory where they can pop out and surprise the defence.

If Croatia reach the final France should deal with any passing accuracies Modric lets loose but he may tie the French up in knots if he receives the ball close to goal or runs at pace with instant direction changes with his low sense of gravity and shooting accuracy. But France stopped Kevin De Bruyne’s passing ability and quashed Eden Hazard’s agility so not much hope for Croatia either.

Iran is quite capable of beating any team within the group and beyond. Remember in 2014 W. C. Argentina was outplayed by Iran and was fortunate not to lose. There have been other such performances by Iran, although Iran usually gets screwed by FIFA and their referees.